Dennis Nett / The Post-StandardSyracuse police arrest Fatima Darby, 24, accusing her of throwing flaming grease at firefighters who responded to a reported fire at her 100 Beard Place apartment. She was eventually placed in an ambulance at the corner of East Beard Avenue and Beard Place.

Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse woman described by police as "emotionally disturbed" threw a pot of flaming grease at two firefighters responding to a kitchen fire in her apartment this afternoon, city police said.

Fatima Darby, 24, was inside the 100 Beard Place apartment near a second-floor window when firefighters responded to a 4:14 p.m. report of a fire with a woman and child inside.

Darby was holding the flaming pot of grease, which had caught the curtains on fire, said Sgt. Tom Connellan. Her 1-year-old son was also inside the residence, which was filling with smoke.

After firefighters forced their way into the apartment, Darby threw the pot of flaming grease at the first two firefighters through the door, Connellan said. She missed.

The grease hit the wall and started another small fire. Firefighters used an extinguisher to put out the fire, Connellan said.

Darby then punched one of the firemen and threatened them, Connellan said.

Her son was safely removed from the residence and taken by ambulance for an evaluation, but appeared to have no injuries, Connellan said.

Dennis Nett / The Post-StandardSyracuse firefighters quickly extinguished a blaze in the second story rear of 100 Beard Place. A woman was taken into custody after the fire.

No firefighters were injured.

Darby was taken into custody by police after a struggle, which ended on a sidewalk at East Beard Avenue and Beard Place, about a half-block from the residence. With her hands cuffed, she was carried on a stretcher to an ambulance.

Darby suffered burns to her hands, said fire investigator Lt. Ken Heffernan. She was taken to Upstate University Hospital for a mental health evaluation, Connellan said.

Authorities searched the residence after receiving reports that a 6-month-old baby was also inside, but that proved to be false, Connellan said.

Darby was charged with misdemeanor arson, reckless endangerment, obstructing government administration, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, Connellan said.